So how much would you pay...

[pam123]

... for a game ?

Game prices for the PS3 : http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...php?story=9901

I think Sony's about to price itself out of the market but then I haunt bargain racks and check out Amazon resellers as a matter of course.

[rspassey]

99$ a game = Increase in pirating.

Pirating is pretty much the only way that people in other, developing, countries are able to have a piece of the consol action. Sony still sells consols, profesionals "chip" them, pirated games sell for 3$ a piece.

[blue60007]

Holy (insert some profanity)! See ya Sony....

Unfortunteately, people will still buy. Even if half the regular people didn't buy, they still make the same amount.

[suitcase]

That's another reason I believe the "episode" style of game release is going to get more commonplace. I'm more apt to lay down $20 for an "episode" rather than $50 for a exspansion pack. The disc may not have as much play but it spreads the cost out. And on that note, is there another episode out for Half Life 2 other than "Episode One"?

[juppy]

Yeah, I just read that article today in my PSM magazine. He was saying he didn't think they would approach the $100 mark though. Since the Xbox titles are already $60 and he said "maybe a little higher", I'd bet on PS3 games being around $65 to $70 on the higher end of the scale.

They had an article in there as well about how buying games from bargain bins is part of the reason why prices are going up on the new games too. Because people are buying the el-cheapo games or used games instead of new ones, and therefore the companies are not making as much money on new titles. Do I buy from the cheapo bins? Heck yeah! But, at the same time, I can see the logic of what they're saying too.

Originally Posted by suitcase And on that note, is there another episode out for Half Life 2 other than "Episode One"?

Nope. They only released Episode 1 earlier this month though. They HAVE already got alot of the next one done though, from what I've heard. I don't remember exactly but I thought they said the next one was supposed to be due out by like Xmas 2006 or so (who knows though with all the release date pushbacks?)

[Ghost(BOO!)]

That's why I always wait 6 months to buy a game (even now for my ps2). I will never pay more than 30 bucks for a game unless it is a new game from my favorite franchises. I'll probably have to wait a year for the ps3 games to go down though. In that article he's not really saying they'd be 100 bucks so I'm guessing the price will be 59.99 to 69.99 depending on the game.

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by Ghost(BOO!) That's why I always wait 6 months to buy a game (even now for my ps2). I will never pay more than 30 bucks for a game unless it is a new game from my favorite franchises. I'll probably have to wait a year for the ps3 games to go down though. In that article he's not really saying they'd be 100 bucks so I'm guessing the price will be 59.99 to 69.99 depending on the game.

I'm even cheaper than you. I generally pay about $20, though it means waiting sometimes a year + to get the game. Doesn't matter. By then, FAQs and walkthroughs are much easier to find for those of us who sometimes need them

[rwest]

Trade shops are the way to go! For a current game on the retail shelf for $60 goes for apx. $30 - $35 used. And...in good condition. It's amazing how fast some games will hit these trade shops. One place I regulary attend has a waiting list for hot games.

[Ghost(BOO!)]

Originally Posted by XenaWP I'm even cheaper than you. I generally pay about $20, though it means waiting sometimes a year + to get the game. Doesn't matter. By then, FAQs and walkthroughs are much easier to find for those of us who sometimes need them

It's no different then getting new games after that first 6 months to a year if you think about it because after that you are already behind so the next game you buy will be at about the same rate that a person buys new games when they come out if you know what I'm saying. The only difference would be that you hear other people talking about (or spoiling the end for you ) of the game you want to buy when it's cheaper.

[Ghost(BOO!)]

Originally Posted by rwest Trade shops are the way to go! For a current game on the retail shelf for $60 goes for apx. $30 - $35 used. And...in good condition. It's amazing how fast some games will hit these trade shops. One place I regulary attend has a waiting list for hot games.

about 3/4 of my games are used or from a greatest hits collection(19.99) from eb games

[AMD]

Im hopefully gonna be getting the Ps3,

But first before i buy one im gonna see how much the games are and if there over £45 im gonna forget it.

Looks like a new Gaming computer is for me,But then again you cant compare a console to a Pc realy.

[rspassey]

Originally Posted by AMD Looks like a new Gaming computer is for me,But then again you cant compare a console to a Pc realy.

I really find consoles to be more for the "group" gaming crowd, who like to play games in the same room and compete with their friends. With the progression toward more interactive and communicative games on the PC, you're able to get a similar experience, but you aren't sitting next to your friends.

[Nuclear Krusader]

For a game? It depends but it won't go above $ 50.00 CAD. I usually pay $ 25.00 and below for my games. Mind you, I haven't bought HL2 because it still sells at around 50 dollars. A game better has to be really, and I mean really, good for me to shell out 50 bucks for it.

The advantages of episoding games are lower price and increased replayability, since they are shorter. The disadvantages: they are shorter and if you get hooked, you'll end up paying more than for a full game. With a full game (50 bucks) giving you anywhere from 15+ hours of gameplay (or 60+ in case of RPGs), you'd have to pay more for the number of episodes that amount to that same quantity of gameplay. Well, a 10 dollar difference doesn't look that much, though.

[jfk]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Mind you, I haven't bought HL2 because it still sells at around 50 dollars.

Really??? I bought a "collector" set, with a couple CS games and HL2 included for $20 at (gag) Wal Mart.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Ya, well, I too saw HL2 at amazon.ca for 20 bucks the other day. But I want the version with the original HL remade with the source engine.

Just curious, what's wrong with Waldo-Mart?

[juppy]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Ya, well, I too saw HL2 at amazon.ca for 20 bucks the other day. But I want the version with the original HL remade with the source engine.

That's the Game Of The Year version. Wallyworld's website is showing it for $39.82 now. It was like $49.97 when I bought it, but that wasn't long after it came out either. And yeah, you'll be amazed how much different the original HL looks in the Source engine as compared with the old one.

[tomster2300]

Nothing's wrong with Wallie world . I definately check out the bargain bins for games every time I go there. (As a side note, I got COD 2 the morning after Thanksgiving for $20 It had just come out - and I just realized it was the collector's editon yesterday when I opened it to put the cd's back in - collector editions don't mean much...if any... to me though).

It was a sad day in hoo-ville when Gamestop bought out eb games and brought their policy of no reselling (or buying) of used pc games over with them. The used console games are still selling strong, but the pc games are coming to an end. Not only are they ending the selling of used games, but they're phasing out pc games as well.

When I asked the cashier at gamestop why, he said:

"Game shops are getting out of the pc business. When you can get a console for $100 bucks..." he leaned over and grabbed an xbox game "...and one of these for $20 bucks, you're going to sell a whole lot more than computer games. Especially when you need a $2,000 computer..." as he points to the small stand of the last 30 odd pc games left in the store "...to play one of those".

Tis a sad day in hoo-ville.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yep, I asked them the same question and got pretty much the same answer. So this is a result of the merge. Pity. PC games aren't going away anytime soon, albeit I have to admit, that with the garbage some developers come out with, I am finding myself a new hobby. But anyway, that's a different issue for a different thread. Microsoft plans to revitalise the PC as a gaming platform, that's one of their objectives with Vista. And also, very soon PC gamers will be able to go head to head against Xbox gamers online. That should revitalise PC gaming as hordes of gamers using analog controls get owned by their PC counterparts.

Thanks, Juppy, for the reassurance, I was quite tempted to order the solo version of HL2 for 20 bux. I won't and will keep checking for a bargain for the GOTY edition.

[rspassey]

Bargain bins are great, but I never really was a fan of buying used PC games... I mean I know some people sell them back because they could use the money, but I'd personally never sell or give away any of my PC games - I like them too much and I might return to one's I played long ago and just play a couple levels.

I think more of the reason that they are getting out of the used PC game busines is because of the money, but they'll be in the same situtation if, and maybe when, games cost 80, 90, 100 dollars. Yes, console gaming is less expensive compared to buying a gaming computer, but, at least for the moment, computers have the upper hand because the gaming experience can *always* be improved. I says "*always*" because there are times when one's current hardware is more than enough to play a game with maximum settings... but there is still room for improvement by getting a new mouse and keyboard, or adding a physics processor, or what not.

If there's a game I really want, I'll pay upwards of 100$ for it, but it better come with some sort of disk insurance... I'm not dropping another 100 later if my disk becomes scratched and they refuse to send me a new one.

[tomster2300]

I think it's going to be a big mistake if anyone raises game prices any higher than they already are.
Like the man said, people buy consoles because of their price. When you begin adding onto the price tag you're going to begin deterring people from purchasing anything in the first place. Even though people spend up to $1,000 when the machines first come out, I would bet that game companies make their biggest sales are after the prices settle down / first price drop.

They claim a raise in price cost is needed to cover production / manufacturing of games for consoles. What about computer games then? I'm sure they're a bit more complex than any console game, yet their prices stay around $40-$60.

[flawedreality5]

I think it's funny that prices are going up but the single player stories of games are getting shorter and shorter it seems.

[Ghost(BOO!)]

They are trying to make consoles into computer systems that most people don't care about. I think that is their biggest mistake and what is causing the price hike. Most people that own consoles just want to play games and don't care about all the other multi media functions.

[RazorDX]

Production values down.... yet prices up? Something doesn't seem right to me.

[Kareeser]

Supply and Demand, and careful manipulation of the game market can cause this. Also, significant hype can drive up prices as well.

The best part (not for consumers) is that there is a purely mathematical model that would easily justify the increase in price. (Optimization model).

As an example of hype:
I was looking to play counter-strike, so I went to EB, and searched. Lo and Behold, I found CS for $34.99. I said "screw that", and picked up Half Life GOTY edition for $20.00. Plus, I get TFC and the original HL at the same time

Sweet deal.

[Iniamyen]

I don't think this is really news. I remember I bought Chrono Trigger for super nintendo at $80... and that was more than a decade ago. True, prices have become more "standardized" since then, and if the "standard" goes up it's a little bit different. But there will always be idiots like me that will pay $80 for a game they really want. Hopefully, the business that the game companies do lose will be enough to convince them to sell to a larger audience for a cheaper price, instead of gouging customers. Higher R&D costs? Yeah right. They have hardly "saturated" the American market with game consoles; there's still plenty more money to be made.

edit: On second thought, if more R&D costs means that they can provide a bug-free game that won't require patching for the next year, just to run, I would say my max price would be closer to $200.

[tomster2300]

It always seems when I buy a new game at retail price I never end playing it. I bought Rome: Total War two weeks ago and I love it...I've played it more than any other game in a long, long time.

[Jaggannath]

Likewise tomster... I play games my bro lends me before I play the games I buy at full price

I liked flawedreality's comment, it's true

[SputnikSweethrt]

I was considering getting a PS3 but..
Sony can suck it.
I'm not paying an arm and leg for their proprietary blu-ray umd crap.